Stamford Welland School of Dancing was established in 1964. The current school patron, Maggie Purr ARAD RAD RTS and her husband James Skinner took over the running of the school in 2010, from previous school patron Anne Desbruslais FISTD, CDE and her husband David Walker ran the school from 1985 to August 2010.

Debbie Shuttleworth AISTD Dip has been a teacher at the school since 1993. More recently, Miss Lisa Topliss AISTD, Miss Amy Kendrick FDI ARAD and Miss Lesley Gramegna AISTD have joined the staff as Tap, Modern Theatre, Hip Hop and Ballet teachers respectively.

The school caters for both the serious student and those who dance recreationally for enjoyments sake. There are currently over 800 pupils, aged 2 to adult in attendance. The school is totally self funded and in its 43 years has received no public funds, (so no cost to the Stamford tax payer) a fact, the school, considered by many as a service to the town, is very proud of.

Welland School of Dancing began in the summer term of 1964 under Mrs Susan Mitchell Smith, and had two classes held at the YMCA, St Peter's Hill Stamford; a class for 3-4 year olds and ballet class for those of 5 years and over. The pianist was Miss Marjorie Perkins who was already playing for Mrs Mitchell Smith's classes at Stamford High school where she had been teaching since the end of 1963, having been introduced to the pupils there by their former teacher Mrs Elizabeth Dawes. Susan Mitchell Smith also held Keep Fit classes and dance classes at Easton on the Hill.

At the school's greatest point of expansion during this time there were over one thousand pupils, two full time teachers, and three part time, a part time secretary and a cleaner. Susan's husband Colin did most of the financial side of running the school, and also acted as stage manager, lighting operator, made props and did any artwork that was needed. Over the years classes were held at Stamford, Bourne, Easton on the Hill, Peterborough, Bretton, Billingboroough, Uppingham and Oakham and at Stamford High School (Junior and Senior School) Stamford Boy's school, Westwood House School, Morcott Hall School and Malcolm Sergeant Primary School.

 
Maggie Purr,Principal of WSD 2010 – present
Maggie Purr,Principal of WSD 2010 – present

Maggie is a former pupil of Welland School of Dancing. Under the tutelage of Miss Desbruslais, Maggie gained a place at the Royal Ballet School as a senior associate, and then at Central School of Ballet in 1996, trained by Christopher and Carole Gable.

Nicole Ryan
Nicole Ryan

Film and Television – Lead Role

Gemma Jackson
Gemma Jackson

Gemma left the Welland School of Dance in 2005 to pursue her career as a professional dancer. She was offered a full time scholarship at Cambridge performing Arts on the musical theatre course, where she studied for four years.

Alexandra Smith
Alexandra Smith

Tiffany Theatre College, Company Manager P&O and princess cruises

Emily Griffiths
Emily Griffiths

Hammond School, P&O and costa cruises

Poppy Brewell
Poppy Brewell

Bird College

Lavinia Kastamoniti
Lavinia Kastamoniti

Lavinia, originally from Greece, began her dancing from an early age in Corfu with her mother Tina Chandley (training: Northern Ballet School) as her teacher.

Charley May
Charley May

Pirouette Scchool – Leicester, Teacher WSD, TuDance and Inspire.

Emily Boswall
Emily Boswall

Ballet Theatre UK school

Alice Cade
Alice Cade

Trinity Laban, Founder of Abalinodance theatre

Jenny Richardson
Jenny Richardson

I started at Welland when i was 3 years old doing ballet classes every Tuesday, then at 7 I joined tap and modern classes.

Chloe Jackson
Chloe Jackson

Royal Ballet school, Arts Educational Tring Park

Chloe Hebden
Chloe Hebden

Billy Elliott, Hebden School of Dancing

Marina Fraser
Marina Fraser

Royal Ballet School

Katie Green
Katie Green

WSD Pupil 1984-2000

Kizze Burkitt
Kizze Burkitt

Since joining at the age of four, Welland has instilled in me an absolute passion for dance that has fundamentally shaped the course of my life.

Harriet Britten
Harriet Britten

What The Welland did for me?
I will forever be grateful for what my time at The Welland taught me, I have always loved dance and always will, as well as this, throughout my 9 years there, I learnt how to be disciplined; in a way that I now pass on to my pupils.

Robert Wilkes
Robert Wilkes

Robert trained at London Studio Centre.

Phil Norton
Phil Norton

Former WSD Pupil
Phil joined the Welland School of Dancing at the age of 3 and attended classes until he was 18. In that time, he took part in the school's main shows, performances at local fetes and took many exams.

Julie Lowe
Julie Lowe

I was at Welland from September 1973 to Easter 1975 (I think).
It was my first teaching job after leaving Bush Davies where I had trained for 3 years.

Carol Cunnington
Carol Cunnington

50 years at WSD as pupil, friend, helper and mother.Little did I realise when I started taking ballet lessons at Stamford High School with Mrs Mitchell-Smith in 1964 that in 2014 (50 years later!) I would still be going to classes at the Welland.

Emma Coupland
Emma Coupland

Northern Ballet school

Sinead Swift
Sinead Swift

Tiffany theatre college

Angela Wilson
Angela Wilson

London Studio Centre

Grace McDermott
Grace McDermott

Masters Performing Arts College